Arjun, 35, a bank clerk in Lucknow, has felt anxious for months. For months, Dr. Sen has kept the same Saturday hour for him and has never missed a meeting. When he describes a hard day at the bank, she seems to sense his worry from the inside, the way he feels it himself. Arjun says these Saturday meetings help him most. At the same centre he also joins a group. There, Kabir, who never speaks of his anger towards his father, is asked to play out an imagined talk with him in front of the others. While he speaks, he is asked to notice the tightness in his jaw and fists.
Arjun says his Saturday meetings with Dr. Sen help him most. Which factor contributing to healing in psychotherapy does this best show?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The therapeutic alliance
Option (1) Catharsis — Incorrect. Catharsis is emotional unburdening, when the client pours out his problems in the first interview sessions. Arjun's gain comes from Dr. Sen being there every week and understanding him.
Option (2) The therapeutic alliance — Correct. The therapeutic alliance is the relationship formed between therapist and client. It heals because of the therapist's regular availability (the same Saturday hour, never missed) and her warmth and empathy (sensing his worry as he feels it).
Option (3) Therapist variables such as a positive nature — Incorrect. Therapist variables are the therapist's own qualities, such as a positive nature or good mental health, found across all therapies. The passage points to the relationship Dr. Sen keeps up with Arjun.
Option (4) Patient variables such as expectation of improvement — Incorrect. Patient variables lie in the client, such as motivation for change or expectation of improvement. Arjun is not described as hoping for change; his help comes from the regular, understanding relationship.
Note: Therapist variables are the therapist's own traits; the therapeutic alliance is the relationship between therapist and client.
NCERT (2026-27): “Factors Contributing to Healing in Psychotherapy … “3. At the outset of therapy while the patient/client is being interviewed in the initial sessions to understand the nature of the problem, s/he unburdens the emotional problems being faced. This process of emotional unburdening is known as catharsis, and it has healing properties.” “4. There are several non-specific factors associated with psychotherapy. Some of these factors are attributed to the patient/client and some to the therapist. These factors are called non-specific because they occur across different systems of psychotherapy and across different clients/patients and different therapists. Non-specific factors attributable to the client/patient are motivation for change, expectation of improvement due to the treatment, etc. These are called patient variables. Non-specific factors attributable to the therapist are positive nature, absence of unresolved emotional conflicts, presence of good mental health, etc. These are called therapist variables.” |